East TN 7 3/8 Barbisio Grande Beaver

[barrowjh]

I have posted about hats for sale at a local antique store before; this time it is about a 'Grande Beaver' Barbisio. This is not my hat, no stake in this at all, the brim is too narrow for my tastes, and it is not my size either, but I post it here because some of you might be interested.

I measured this hat using a vintage stretcher with scale and separately with the Lingjia 'hat measurer tool' (scissor-like) and both measured to the same size - dead between 7 3/8 and 7 1/2. I penned 7 3/8 onto the seller's price tag that you see in the pic as it is at least a very solid 7 3/8. The brim is 2 1/4. There is no visible damage to the hat, but I cannot guarantee there are no flaws. In the previous post, link to this thread -
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?44860-East-TN-7-1-8-Allesandria&highlight=borsalino
Buler contacted the store and bought that hat, but during cleaning discovered a cut clean through the crown, an embarrassment for me, but there are some issues that simply are not visible until you get the felt wet during cleaning. All I can say is that I cannot see any damage. It needs a cleaning.

The store is located -
Music Row Antiques & Collectibles, Inc.
2816 East Lamar Alexander Parkway
Maryville, TN 37804
(865) 984-9599
owner - Anita Wilson
On 321 driving East towards Townsend, it is 2 miles past Blount Memorial Hospital on the right side of the highway.

That seller has the hat priced at just $25, and for someone that is really interested in a grande beaver, this size, it is a very reasonable price.

 

[barrowjh]

Might as well add this one, since I took pics of it while I was there -
This is a Stetson Gun Club in size 7 1/8, for sale in the same booth, same seller (I presume) for $40. I see these sell for less than that on ebay routinely, so this hat was not something I would have started a thread about.

I have no financial interest in either of these two hats, just posting them in case someone else is interested.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Crikies, that Barbisio's a furry one! I agree with you about the brim, though. I lose interest in a hat with brims under 2-1/4.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Cripes!

I'm close but furry just ain't my thing, thanks for the 'heads up' though, Sir.

 

[barrowjh]

There are some devoted fans of the 'peluche' furry felt, maybe one of them will see this.

 

[rlk]

That label and sweatband is typically a USA made Barbisio(70's-80's?-can't quite remember- by Bollman)

 

[barrowjh]

Definitely a modern Barbisio, but I don't know where it was made (if not in Italy). The sweat band is clearly a step or two down from the nice roan leather of the 1950s and before, the pheather, the metal Barbisio pin on the bow, all say 'recent' vintage. I should add that the felt itself is a bit odd; very thin and light, yet has an audible pop when flexed. I was tempted to suggest that it really is not felt, but it is hard to believe the manufacturer would state 'Grande Beaver' boldly on the sweatband if it was not at least a beaver blend felt.

 

[carouselvic]

It is a beaver finish, has nothing to do with fur content.